Li Ying originally thought that with the help of Master Ge, the development of the Golden Flower Dark Tea would be a sure thing.
Seeing him being so solemn and straightforward in his refusal, she couldn't help but feel a bit embarrassed.
"Senior, since you also think this dark tea tastes pleasant, why not? Are you worried about quality control and cost issues?"
Li Ying asked directly. Master Ge didn't try to hide anything. He waved his hand and frankly said, "I've truly never heard of or seen this Golden Flower Dark Tea before. That rich flavor will surely attract a large number of fans. What I mean by 'not possible' doesn't lie with the tea, but with me."
Although he was a master tea - maker, he was only an expert in green tea and didn't dare to take on more than he could handle.
"I can only assert that if this Golden Flower Dark Tea is successfully made, it will surely shock all the tea merchants in the world. However, you, Miss Li, may have to find another skilled tea - maker."
He said all he wanted to say. Although his words were sincere, there was a faint flicker in his eyes.
Li Ying was about to ask further and request him to recommend someone, but Master Ge put on a serious face and refused to say another word.
She had no choice. Seeing the look of weariness on Master Ge's face, she knew she couldn't get anything more out of him. So she honestly bowed and left with a heavy heart.
Lu Xunguang could tell from afar that she was in low spirits. He quickly stepped forward with concern and softly asked, "Got rejected?"
Li Ying let out a bitter smile and nodded. Master Ge, as an old acquaintance of Lord Yan, was surely impeccable in terms of character and integrity. He was an upright and kind person, but he had one flaw: once he made up his mind and refused to speak, no matter how hard you tried, you couldn't pry his lips open.
Seeing her looking worried and unenthusiastic, Lu Xunguang guessed that she was in no mood for chatting, so he didn't say anything more and just walked quietly beside her.
When A Man saw her coming back, she quickly stepped forward and asked, "Sister, how was it? What did that old tea - master say?"
Li Ying didn't want her to worry, so she just smiled and glossed over it.
A Man wanted to ask further, but Ruyi was a smart girl. She tugged at A Man's sleeve and changed the topic.
"Sister A Man, I love your Hu Xuan Dance so much. But the dance is so light and agile that it's really hard to learn! Could you please give me some more pointers?"
A Man was simple - minded. Sure enough, her attention was diverted. After greeting Li Ying, she excitedly went to the yard with Ruyi to practice the dance.
Looking at their backs, Li Ying couldn't help but secretly admire.
Ruyi had been a street urchin since childhood, so she had developed a good ability to read people's expressions. Compared with the straightforward A Man, she was more delicate and tactful.
She was thinking vaguely that when the restaurant was renovated and reopened, Ruyi would be a good candidate for the "hall manager".
As she was thinking, she felt her eyelids getting heavier and heavier, and she dozed off unconsciously.
Grandma Sun saw that she looked tired and carefully covered her with a thick blanket.
When she woke up from her nap and lazily stretched, a chill swept over her and she couldn't help shivering.
Grandma Sun said lovingly, "A Ying, I've chosen two pieces of fashionable fabric for you at the silk store. I thought that since you receive important people in the capital every day, my clumsy skills are really not good enough. Since you're free now, go and get your measurements taken quickly and make some warm winter clothes. Be careful not to catch a cold."
Li Ying nodded in agreement. Soon she arrived in the city. The silk store Grandma Sun frequented was the Lu family's cloth shop. The shopkeeper recognized her and greeted her with a big smile from afar.
"Madam, you finally have time to come! We've been waiting for you for a long time!"
Li Ying frowned imperceptibly.
These three words "Madam" were really hard to explain.
The silk store was full of people. She didn't want to argue with the shopkeeper in public. Seeing that the satin Grandma Sun had chosen was the elegant snow - blue color she usually liked, she said nothing and silently followed the shopkeeper into the inner room to get her measurements taken.
"Madam, in my opinion, with your natural beauty, why do you always dress so simply? You're in your prime and should dress more prettily. I think that red cloud brocade suits you perfectly!"
The brocade she was talking about was embroidered with extremely complicated pheasants and peonies and decorated with colorful gold threads. It was really luxurious and had the style of the "head mistress of the Lu family".
Li Ying rarely wore such gaudy and old - fashioned fabrics. She waved her hand disapprovingly.
The shopkeeper had already picked up the brocade to wrap it up, but was rebuffed. She could only smile awkwardly, pick up the ruler and quickly take the measurements, while still chattering on and on.
"Madam, your waist has become much wider than when you first came to the capital. But it's understandable. Being happy makes you plump, and it's a sign of good fortune and a prosperous husband!"
She was chatting enthusiastically, but Li Ying only found her noisy.
She heard from the maids and servants that the shopkeeper of the silk store used to be Lu Xunguang's wet - nurse when he was a child. So she had to show some courtesy. She just calmed herself down and regarded the shopkeeper as a troublesome relative during festivals. She just turned a blind eye to her overly familiar actions and quietly avoided them.
Finally, after getting dressed up, Li Ying let out a long sigh. She finally managed to escape from the silk store. She found a teahouse and drank two cups of tea before finally feeling relaxed.
She didn't really care about this little incident. Instead, the teahouse in the capital had a very elegant style. Maybe it would be a good partner in the future.
There was no clue about finding a dark - tea master. And Lord Xu's congratulatory banquet for his promotion was still a few days away. Li Ying had nothing to do, so she simply came to the teahouse every day to sit and listen to the guests' conversations, hoping to find some leads about the tea master.
One day, when she was slowly sipping tea with her family, she suddenly heard a scream behind her.
"Hey, isn't this Madam Lu?"
It took Li Ying a while to come to her senses. She realized that this "Madam Lu" was actually referring to herself, and she couldn't help frowning.
The speaker was a very well - dressed woman. Seeing Li Ying looking over and still holding a tea cup in her hand, she exclaimed even more exaggeratedly, "Oh, Madam Lu, this Bi Tan Piao Xue tea is extremely cold. You're in an unstable pregnancy. You mustn't drink it!"
Her voice was so loud that it immediately attracted the attention of the literati and scholars in the teahouse.
Li Ying was stunned by this inexplicable "unstable pregnancy". Seeing her looking stunned and motionless, the fat woman started to persuade her earnestly and endlessly, with every word referring to the "fetus".
She was quite well - known in the capital. Many of the tea guests knew that she was a divorced woman with a child. This sudden news of her being pregnant made them whisper and discuss among themselves.